Broomfield feeling flu bug's bite

Already five local hospitalizations this year as country is hard hit by virus

By By Megan Quinn

Enterprise Staff Writer

Posted:
01/18/2013 01:41:22 PM MST

WITH A DOSE OF HUMOR: Tyler Fletcher, 13, laughs at something Broomfield public health nurse Christi Jele said while giving him his flu shot and immunizations Thursday.
(
David R. Jennings
)

Get your flu shot

The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment recommends flu shots to help prevent the spread of the disease. Priority groups recommended for vaccinations include children ages 6 months to 4 years old, people with chronic health conditions, women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, seniors, health care professionals and residents of nursing homes and chronic care facilities.

Broomfield residents suffering from body aches, runny noses and chills this year aren't alone. In fact, flu sufferers have more company this year than usual.

A spike in flu illness has prompted Broomfield health officials to press for more widespread immunizations, and officials are asking sick people to stay home and take it easy to prevent infecting other people.

The advice sounds like common sense, but Jeff Stoll, Broomfield's public health officer, said people should be especially vigilant because Broomfield is getting hit just as hard as the rest of Colorado. The city has seen nine and 10 flu-related hospitalizations in 2010 and 2011, respectively, but Stoll said there have already been five hospitalizations in Broomfield in 2013.

"That's already half of what we normally see all year," he said.

In Colorado, 674 people have been hospitalized with the flu since the start of the season in October, and four children have died this year from flu complications, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, or CDPHE.

Broomfield isn't the only city to get hit with the nasty illness that can include upset stomach, chills, body aches and other unpleasant symptoms. Influenza activity is on the rise in the United States, and most of the country is experiencing high levels of influenza, according to the Centers for Disease Control's recent FluView report, which tracks flu symptoms across the country.

Dr. Chris Urbina, executive director and chief medical officer at the CDPHE, said the best way to avoid the flu is to get the flu vaccine. For those who are already sick, getting antiviral treatment as early as possible is a good rule of thumb.

Help prevent the flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

It's not too late to get a shot, especially because the flu is likely to stick around for a while, he said.

"While the timing of influenza seasons is impossible to predict, based on past experience, it's likely that flu activity will continue for some time," Urbina stated in a news release.

Stoll said Broomfield residents can reduce their exposure to the flu by getting a flu shot. A CDC report said 91 percent of the flu viruses that have been analyzed this year are included in the vaccine, and the vaccine is expected to prevent about 62 percent of influenza cases that would otherwise mean a trip to the doctor.

"The vaccine is as good a fit as it's ever been," Stoll said.

While most pharmacies, doctor's offices and the Broomfield Public Health and the Environment immunization clinic offer vaccines, most health officials recommend calling ahead to see if the vaccine is available. Some health centers and drug stores in Broomfield have experienced temporary shortages in the past few weeks, and some might not be able to offer vaccines to young children who need a different dose of the shot, Stoll said.

That shouldn't deter people from getting their flu shot, he said.

"The prevention piece is critical," Stoll said.

A particular focus should be on children, who seem to get the flu shot in smaller numbers than adults, Stoll said.

"Historically, the focus has been that adults need vaccines, but if a child is 6 months or older, it's important that the whole family get vaccinated," he said.

Vaccines also help the youngest family members stay healthy, especially babies who are too young to get the vaccine, he said.

In local school districts, officials said they have not seen too many flu cases for either students or faculty since students have returned from winter break. Yet that could change over time.

"It's been so far, so good," said Melissa Hoelting, a spokeswoman for the Adams 12 school district. "But everyone is just coming back, so we might see an uptick in the coming weeks."

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